Can some one clarify to me when regular TV will no longer work & you must use a high definition TV? Some one at work is saying in 2007!

I have been told by 2007 as well. It seems a bit short tho, as not everyone has upgraded...
I think there will still be a way for non-HD users to have tv, but there will probably be some sort of really expensive box they have to attach to it to get tv.

I think there is alot of confusion going on...someones been tossing potions, havent they?

Please read here for some clarification.

I have heard 2008 is the deadline. I spoke with my local cable company which is Comcast. They tell me that as long as I am using one of their boxes it wont matter what kind of tv I have. I can view the HD channels from the box on my 12 year TV with no problems at all when using the cable box.

well that is nice to know

I just asked Pop (hubby) ... the master of our bigger than life itself HDTV .. he said it is digital that will be incorporated ... and it was sometime between 2006-2008 ....

*at least i tried to find out why it was we bought that BIGGER THAN LIFE ITSELF HDTV .. oh yeah .. cause of FOOTBALL!!! LOL

Mum, you should know there is NO REASON we buy these bigger than life itself HDTVs. We buy them because we are men, it is our nature. We have to have the biggest, best, most updated technology. Me and my father both have 55" HDTVs here, and my wife just doesnt understand us...."why do you both need big screens???"

as far as I understood it. it is that all TV signals need to be broadcast in HD at that time not that you need to upgrade the TV itself.

I think the confusion comes in when thinking about analog vs. digital not TV vs. HDTV

an HDTV signal dose not have to be digital
it is a reference to lines of resolution
TV has say 200 lines of resolution
HDTV has 400 lines of resolution
(numbers not exact just using simple numbers for clarity)

it would be the same as when they began to broadcast in color. you could still watch on your black & white it just wasn't as ah...... colorful

think I'm gonna have to look into this a bit more and find out for sure.

hmm looks like they are forcing a pure digital broadcast.

but the US government has a Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Assistance Program.

"On February 18, 2009, full power television stations will stop analog broadcasting and transition to digital broadcasting. Households that do not subscribe to cable or satellite services will need either a television set capable of receiving DTV programming, or a digital-to-analog converter box. Digital-to-analog converter boxes will make DTV signals viewable on analog TV sets. These converter boxes will be available in retail stores during the transition. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce is developing rules that will allow households to obtain coupons that can be applied toward the purchase of digital-to-analog converter boxes. For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Assistance Program click on NTIA's frequently asked questions."

note that it is a conversion from analog to digital(DTV) not standard definition (SDTV) to High Defenition (HDTV) I guess this means they are going to force you to get a digital receiver but they can still send out a crappy picture!